Arduino

[AGEUSAF]

http://www.arduino.cc/

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. Anyone played with this sort of thing or any other type of prototyping boards? I started playing with these because I am more interested in writing the code than the physical wiring (do that all the time for work). For the longest time when I would come across a board to troubleshoot I would think about the code in the chip so I thought it was about time to learn. Maybe if make something half way cool I will post some pics.

[Phil Fiord]

I'd say, have a look here. http://www.avbrand.com/

The guy has used these things for many applications in his life. If I recall correctly, his home, a soda machine and a car.

[Luke]

"Easy to use software and hardware" are more than a little oxymoronic to most hillbillies.

[Ryan Ruck]

I've heard of it but have never messed with it.

I've wanted to try to use one to resurrect a GE flip clock I've got with a bad motor but it is just one of those distant back burner projects.

[American Patriot]

I used to make my own circuit boats for projects, but that was a long time ago.

Most things I would breadboard and then after done with them disassemble them. Breadboarding is great for simple projects, but not if the thing will bounced around and stuff. (like in a small remote controlled helicopter or something)

[Phil Fiord]

Solder and shrink tubing. Effective for jiggling.

[American Patriot]

he said "jiggling" lol

I have a completely different image of "jiggling" that has NOTHING whatsoever to do with electronics.

[AGEUSAF]

All sorts of fun stuff on this site. Probably not the best now that spring is here but rainy days.

http://blog.makezine.com/projects/


I have been getting this magazine when I am think of it from time to time will probably pay for the yearly, alot cheaper that way. The mag is way better than the site.

http://www.nutsvolts.com/


no jiggling either in this particular publication ;-)

[AGEUSAF]

Adding to the Arduino projects.

I haven't built this yet but it wouldn't take much I think and I have a UNO board just sitting on the bench. To explain the link is the DEC 2010 issue of Nuts and Volts. There is an article on building a compost temperatur sensor with wireless. The XBee wireless is something I haven't played with yet but is under 30 bucks so what the heck when time permits. In short you are taking some pvc pipe putting the hardware inside with sensors sticking out at different levels, burying the thing and reading the temperatures of your compost heap. Since it's garden time for me this might be something that gets done since it actually has a use for now in the back yard.

http://nutsvolts.texterity.com/nutsv...20sesning#pg36

http://www.nutsvolts.com/index.php?/...3fdde181880a9/

Hopefully the link works.

[AGEUSAF]

Not a specific Arduino project but I did use the voltage off an Arduino board for testing.

http://www.learningaboutelectronics....or-circuit.php

http://www.learningaboutelectronics....ch-circuit.php


I was at the hardware store about a month ago now and I seen these solar powered lights on sale for like 10 buck. I was like sweet I need two of those one for the dark side of the house and one for my open carport in the backyard. Well I get them home and realize I paid for an outdoor solar light that was remote controlled for on and off, not a motion detector LOL. I assumed the little dome on the bottom was a motion sensor well it was not which explains the cheap price.

I went on ebay bought 5 PIR sensors for 12 bucks and had the transistors already to complete the circuit. I should take a pic of the finished project way easier to explain. Anyway got two fiberglass boxes and mounted the PIR sensor in the box use some cat5e wire to make the transition to the lights and walla a motion detector activated light. The links pretty much explain the circuits and so far they have held up well.

You have to use a transistor to pass the full voltage to the LED lights the PIR voltage was cut down from 3.6 to 2.8 which isn't enough to drive the lights. So you use the PIR to turn on the transistor and use the transistor as a switch to pass on full current to the lights.

[AGEUSAF]

http://learn.adafruit.com/arduino-le...ement-detector

Since I had just bought all those cheap PIR sensors. I did this little exercise with the Arduino last week. It was the first time using Python code. This interests me alot since this is the same code Add Ons are wrote in for XBMC.

Kind of cool though hook up the PIR to the Arduino wave your hand in front and then it detects motion and sends you email saying so. What would make this project much more interesting is using Xbee wireless shields and having it remotely watching something. I don't know maybe something to spark that ah ha moment.

[Ryan Ruck]

Those are cool homebrew projects!

[AGEUSAF]

http://www.arduinoclassroom.com/


The above link is a new site that is going to be a step by step instructional over a long period of time for Arduino. This came in this month's Nuts and Volts Magazine which I get and looks like its going to be very helpful. I have done quite a bit more with the boards then the first chapter but I went through the whole thing and still learned a few things that I didn't realize before.

I signed up on their forum to get the numbers up for participation he is really looking for teachers and students to get involved so if there is teacher out there give him a shout personally, he gives an email for such purpose.

I have real hopes that this is going to be way better than books that are out there or the project sites. Those tend to help make something but in the end you may not understand half of what you did.